Weekly Devotions

“The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart.” Psalm 51:17, God’s Word Translation.

At this time of the year, people around the world begin contemplating their Gift List. Maybe like me, you keep a folder containing a list of names of family and special friends we want to remember with a token of our love. Most of the people on my list need nothing, but I enjoy taking the time to give intentional thought to each person who enriches my life every day. However, the gift needs to be more than just a “filler” so I can cross off a name on my list. I want the contents of the package to reflect the uniqueness of how I see them in my life. But I must say, sometimes I struggle with the “just for you” gift idea. What do you get the person who seemingly needs nothing and has everything? Although shopping is fun for the special people in my life, and as delightful as gift-sharing can be, I am relieved when the folder holding my completed gift list goes back in the file cabinet for another year.

Come with me on a short detour.

A dear friend told me a few years ago that he gave his life to Jesus. He shared with me how he tries to do good things to earn his way into God’s good graces. Oh, my goodness, how I could relate! The first thirty-five years of my life, I wondered if I was good enough for God. What could I do to earn His favor? This led to another dilemma; what could I give God Who needs nothing? How do I show Him how much I love Him and am grateful for Jesus? In March of 1983, at my first Bible study, I learned that I was not and never would or could be good enough to win God’s favor or attention. Instead, I come to my Lord each day with open, empty hands, except for one thing…

In these days of gift giving, find comfort in knowing that our Self-reliant, Great and Almighty God, though He needs nothing from you or me, He does long for the one thing He will never take without our permission, because He is the Ultimate Gentleman. Friend, if you have not already, today, will you do what I did back in 1983? Will you give to God your heart?

One of my favorite hymns is Jesus Paid It All, written by Elvina M. Hall in 1865. I invite you to take a few minutes and listen carefully to the words of the beautiful rendition in the YouTube below and be blessed.

“For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light, and corrective discipline is the way to life.” Proverbs 6:23

The pet containment industry is booming. The Better Business Bureau reports over 500 companies that make up a $1.5 billion annual revenue. Pet owners who have yards or designated spaces for their precious fur babies to run or play in know what a valuable service this is. For those who aren’t familiar with these systems, the general way that they function: a collar with a receiver is placed on your sweet pet and there is some sort of electrical field or boundary predetermined to be safe and allows for the pet to stay within by the owner. The collar or receiver, picks up a signal when a pet gets too close to the boundary and beeps in order to warn the pet to back up and stay within the safe limits their owner has set. If that precious little stinker goes past the boundary, the collar will send a gentle static correction. The level of static correction that the fur baby receives will be determined by their response and obedience to the system. I have 4 dogs and each is set at a different level of correction based on their testing the limits outside of safety and into danger, as our boundary is near the road with a decent amount of traffic. This system has prevented lost pets, thwarted them from running into the street where they risk getting hit by a car, and keeps them from bolting out of my front door to rudely jump on and greet mailmen or friends stopping by.  

Many times, I have wished that my kids had a system like this when they were younger and liked to bolt across the street without looking. As my kids have become teenagers and are venturing out into the world of driving, social media, and freedom to make all kinds of choices that affect their futures daily, I have come to realize that God developed a plan very similar to this pet containment system… 

You see friend, God’s Word, the Holy Spirit and natural consequences are like a Holy Invisible Fence system. His Word is like the boundary flags that define our safe space to run free and live under the shadow of His wings. The Holy Spirit living inside us is our receiver. He pings our spirit, saying, “this is the way, walk in it.” Or, “Don’t go there, that is not God’s best for you.” When we decide to test our boundaries, He gives us natural consequences and sometimes they hurt. If we keep going away from His safe place, we can get lost, will become lonely and risk danger that we can’t even see because the momentary escape feels like freedom. God sees the dangers we can’t, just as we see the dangers that our fur babies can’t anticipate. God knows our hearts, how they function best, and what it takes for our minds and emotions to flourish. He made us to live abundant lives in Him, within His clearly defined boundaries. Lord, help us to trust in Your Word and wisdom for our lives. Help us to tune our hearts, minds, and souls to your frequency and have the strength to stay right where You want us to be.  

“I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

Cinnamon, pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, sweaters, brisk walks, colors, crunchy leaves, fireplace light, cozy throws. Fall. Maybe this is not your dream season. Living in the tropics all year long with one pleasant, hot season creates a longing in me for change, crispness, autumn.

We made an unexpected trip to the south in mid-October and I was hoping for the explosion of color seen from the airplane window. My eyes were peeled ready to see a few trees declaring their glory. We were there too early. There were few attempting to change their wardrobe. I did find some early bird leaves and carried them back to paradise to lay in my thanksgiving bowl.

The next morning, crumpled, curled crinkled leaves were adjusting to humidity and heat. Their glory was not as it had been just hours earlier.

A leafy reminder that I live in the always-ready-to-pull-me-down brokenness of daily life. I can easily be tempted by a hasty word, a hurtful glance, a heated discussion. My choice can lead me to wilt, crumble, curl up. Even in the wounded or crinkling of life, there is still hope to declare.
So pause,
breathe,
give thanks.

Living by faith, abiding in The Branch, we are connected and can give a response for every season, every reality.  What is in me will show through. May the Fruit of the Spirit bring a sweet aroma, a splash of His beauty, the colors of grace.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25, NKJV

Every serious athlete knows that the backend of any sporting event will be more challenging than the frontend. Also, running a sprint versus running a marathon requires different approaches. A sprint is a shorter distance generally with a faster pace, while a marathon is longer with a bit slower pace; however, both race formats demand physical strength and a healthy mindset, through a process of rest and rejuvenation.

In my running days (a long time ago), I ran a five-mile race on the beach. At the time, I was new to the sport of running, so like many “newbies,” when the shot rang out, I took off running as fast as my legs would move. Other participants seemed quizzically to stay just far enough behind me, that I barely knew they were still in the race. I felt very good about my performance, until about mile four, when suddenly, the sand seemed to be sucking my feet into its’ depths. One by one, the other runners started passing me. None of the “self-pep-talk” coming from within could change the certain end of my losing story.

For most of us, I think we find ourselves greeting each morning of our lives with the mindset of tackling our “to do” lists as one “running a sprint.” We see the goal, hear the shot, and take off, forgetting one important factor; we need “Him who is able to keep us from stumbling…” Raw physical or mental strength and sheer determination are no match for the challenges of this world. Without Jesus, we are at the mercy of self-preservation, which inevitably bottoms out. Unlike the human condition, Jesus never requires being rejuvenated. His mood never fluctuates. He “presents [us] faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior…”

Today, will you invite Jesus to lead the way as you tackle the responsibilities that lay ahead? After the five-mile race I ran many years ago, I learned a little secret—the people who I thought were just slower than I, were utilizing a great method called, drafting. You see, with me running in front, my body diminished the wind force for the runners behind me, meaning they were not needing to work as hard. I pray you will allow Jesus to “draft the winds” for you, whether your day is a sprint or a marathon.   

“Do you see a man (or woman) hasty in his (or her) words? There is more hope for a fool than for him (or her)” “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” Proverbs 29:20 & Proverbs 30:5, NKJV (additional emphasis mine).

November 2024 is a major election year in the United States. For many months, millions upon millions of dollars have been spent on media advertisements on behalf of various politicians vying for offices of power, including President, the highest office in the land. Promises, promises, and more promises about how and what each person claims he or she will do for the people if given the opportunity to serve. As most people have learned through experience, promises are much easier to make than to keep. Excuses and blame replace promises unkept. Still, this Constitutional Republic that Benjamin Franklin once wisely stated, “it is what we have if we can keep it.” Franklin made this statement over two hundred years ago, and the experiment, so far, has prevailed.

Every election cycle seems to grow more contentious. The year 2024 may prove to be the most vitriolic election since the inception of the Republic, certainly the most divisive in my lifetime. Friendships, even families have become broken to the point of isolating from each other. Social Media comments have wounded decades-long relationships so deeply that some people may never speak to one another again. Really? Seriously?  

Friend, (and I do consider you my friend, though we may never have met) please know that God is the only One Whose “Every word is pure.” Even people who mean well will fail us. Politicians come and go; they will serve, some will fail, but all will die, along with you and me. I pray that in this election, when we cast our vote, we will remember that only God alone is eternal. Whatever transpires in this election, or any election, God, not by human ballot rather by His Sovereignty, is still on His throne.

For further understanding, please read Job 38 through 39.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

I always used to get lost. I was not blessed with a natural sense of direction. In fact, sometimes when my natural inclination was to turn right, I went left and that usually led me to where I needed to go. When I started driving about 20 years ago, I would have to make sure I wrote out clear directions from a map, then MapQuest was the next best thing. Then GPS systems revolutionized travel and really gave this timid traveler some navigational confidence and freedom. I was able to navigate cities that I would never have been able to without one. Now, I am totally GPS dependent. I use my Waze app to get me everywhere: to avoid traffic, construction zones, objects on the road, and to watch my speeding as fellow wazers warn of Police presence. I no longer get lost! It’s amazing…unless I enter the wrong destination address. 

God gave us a spiritual GPS in His Word, for us to use it daily to direct us in where we are going, turn by turn. We should enter HEAVEN as our destination because we aren’t promised a moment in the future. No matter what “construction zone,” “traffic delay,” or “object on the road,” we have a guide in Christ Jesus and in His Word to lead us on the path to Himself and to the Father. The Holy Spirit is like the voice-guided assistant. If we listen to His leading and obey the instructions, even if we take an unexpected detour or miss a turn, His voice will lead us home. 

Lord, help us daily enter your Heavenly coordinates and trust that you will lead us no matter what happens on the road that leads to You.